North Texas Craft Beer Conspectus - September 23, 2025 edition

Image credits: Brew Beverages, Acre Distilling, Malai Kitchen, Landon Winery, Believer Brew House.

It's been more than a minute (years actually) since the last Conspectus was compiled, but brief news bites have been piling up, so why not bring it back? With that, here's an update of items involving a local distillery, contract brands, and a new place to enjoy one of the area's longer-running brands of beer.

Cheers!

Beer still coming soon at Acre Distilling

Acre Distilling of Fort Worth first revealed its intention to add brewing operations in late 2024. According to owner Tony Formby, those plans are still in place, but beer production won't begin until after the new year at the earliest, as the company is currently prioritizing other activities.


New beer brand seeks to bridge cultures

Launching in August, Believer Brew House is a contract operation whose beers are being made at Lakewood Brewing Co. of Garland. Products are inspired by the flavors of India and the cultural heritage of the company's partners.

As they work to introduce the brand, Believer has been doing tastings at area liquor stores on nearly a weekly basis, so follow the company's social media channels for info on future gatherings. You can also click here for a list of bars, restaurants and retailers who carry Believer's two beers: Nimbu Bot Lager with Lime and X-Roads Blonde Ale with Coriander.

Brew Aleworks eyes return to market

Also vying for time on the production calendar at Lakewood is Brew Aleworks of Granbury, a company aiming to re-enter the market as a contract brewery after closing its brick-and-mortar location in late 2023. Owner Christian Piatt hopes to have kegs of Dizzy Blonde and Lucky Light Lager on the market sometime after Thanksgiving.


Landon looking to expand house beer distribution

Based on licensing applications recently filed with the TABC, Landon Winery has plans to expand distribution of its house beers. Landon first started making its own beer in 2017, serving those recipes at its Greenville location until early 2019. The company brought beer back earlier this year, with its offerings now available at the winery's tasting rooms in Gainesville and Greenville. Once the respective licenses are approved, Grapevine and Wylie will presumably be added to the list.

Malai beers being served at new spin-off in Plano

Malai Kitchen, brewing its own brand of Asian-inspired beers since 2014, debuted a new restaurant concept this past week. Located in a former Chick-Fil-A space at 1909 Preston Rd. in Plano, the company's Brya Zan Thai Noodle + Brew offers four Malai beers on its everyday menu.

Incidentally, recipes pouring at all of the restaurant's locales (Dallas - Uptown and Preston Center, Fort Worth, Southlake and Plano - Brya Zan) are now brewed at Malai Brewing, a dedicated production facility attached to Malai's spot in Southlake.

Grab a beer and a burger at Brew Aleworks in Granbury

Beer and food options at Brew Aleworks include Charleston Amber (red ale, lower left) and The Hawaiian
(turkey burger with teriyaki sauce and fresh bell pepper, lower right). All images © Brian Brown/Beer in Big D.

Locales for enjoying a craft beer at the source are a little lean in the far southwest region of North Texas, but late last year a new destination emerged with the opening of Brew Aleworks in Granbury.

Brew Aleworks is a sister business to Brew Drinkery & Bistro, a taproom/restaurant in the city, both of which are operated by owner Christian Piatt. In fact, the first Aleworks recipes were tapped at the Drinkery beginning in mid-July. Production initially took place at Hop & Sting Brewing Co. of Grapevine, while construction was completed on the new spot.

Open now since September, Brew Aleworks occupies a roughly 3000 square foot retail space located at 715 Autumn Ridge Dr. in Granbury. The brewpub presents with a bar and grill-type setup, albeit with 1920s Prohibition-era styling. Art deco artwork and fixtures enhance the flapper feel, which further extends to house beer identifiers like Bugsy Lager, Jitterbug Pale Ale, Charleston Amber and Speakeasy Stout.

Those beers join a year-round portfolio which also includes 33 Hefeweizen, Dizzy Blonde, and Lucky Light Lager. Classic and straightforward styles top-to-bottom, in case you hadn't noticed, the amber and pale ales being personal favorites. Each is crafted on a seven-barrel system at Brew Aleworks, with seasonal rotators and an occasional barrel-aged beer (currently a doppelbock) supplementing the everyday lineup. 

On the food side of things, appetizers, gourmet burgers, chicken sandwiches and salads appear on the menu. And if you go with a burger, know you have a number of options to choose from, not only with regards to patty-type (beef, bison, lamb, turkey, black bean), but with the fries on the side as well (regular, Cajun, black truffle parmesan).

As for other beverages, soda, sparkling water and NA beers are kept on hand for non-drinkers, while wine, cider and hard seltzers are available for those not into beer, but wanting the extra kick.

Brew Aleworks is open six days a week, with operating hours on Tuesday-Sunday. Give 'em a try should you find yourself in need of good beer and good grub in Granbury.

Brew Aleworks aims for late spring opening in Granbury

Image courtesy of Brew Aleworks.

Residents of Granbury will soon have access to another source of locally-made beer, once a new brewpub opens in the city later this year.

According to owner Christian Piatt, development is underway on Brew Aleworks, a small-batch brewpub to be located in a 3000 square foot retail center space at 715 Autumn Ridge. Piatt, an already established business owner in Granbury, opened Brew Drinkery - a taproom and restaurant - there in January 2020.

As for Brew Aleworks, Piatt says the style of the place will have a 1920s Prohibition-era vibe. They'll offer a menu of upscale pub food (think gourmet burgers, wings and pizzas) served alongside beers produced on a seven-barrel system designed by Specific Mechanical Systems of Victoria, British Columbia, Canada.

Recipes will focus predominantly on classic styles to start, with plans calling for a blonde ale, American amber, hefeweizen, hazy pale ale, Mexican lager and milk stout.

Piatt hopes to open Brew Aleworks in late May, or early June.